Phase I of the LA 1 Improvements project includes the development and construction of a fully-access controlled, elevated toll highway on a new location. This toll-financed project located in the State of Louisiana, consists of a two-lane bridge over Bayou Lafourche with interchanges and connection roads immediately north and south of Leeville and includes a two-lane bridge from Leeville South to Port Fourchon on a location that parallels Louisiana Highway 1.

The existing LA 1 required replacement because of subsidence, erosion, and frequent storm damage. In the event of hurricanes, LA 1 is the only highway evacuation route for Port Fourchon and Grande Isle, both of which suffered extensive damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. 
The project was constructed in phases:

• Phase 1A: Fourchon to Leeville Bridge - Approximately 7 miles, 40-foot wide, two-lane elevated highway south of Leeville Bridge to LA 3090 in Port Fourchon. (Open to traffic)
• Phase 1B: Leeville Bridge Approaches and Connector - Two-lane interchanges and connector roads north and south of the Leeville Bridge. (Open to traffic)
• Phase 1C: Leeville Bridge Replacement - Two-lane, fixed-span, high-level bridge (Tomey J. Doucet Bridge) over Bayou Lafourche. (Open to traffic)
• Phase 1D: Customer service center, kiosk network, open-road tolling equipment and intelligent transportation systems (ITS). (Completed)